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Text:
Malachi 2:1-17
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1. Gen. 8:1 and Ex. 2:24 (Read)
2. God Remembered? The Covenant. He never forgot Noah, it simply means HE was faithful to HIS covenant with Noah.
3. Malachi (My Messenger) was speaking to a different time of history than most other Old Testament prophets.
A. Jeremiah and Ezekiel – wrote of the coming judgment of God upon Judah.
B. A time when Daniel and the young princes, including Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednigo, were taken captive into Babylonian captivity.
C. Other prophets – like Isaiah prophesied during the captivity about a future deliverance. Malachi, however, was the last OT prophet. The final messenger before the coming of Messiah.
4. Gradually the people returned. Life return to normal.
A. They were the clearest example of God’s covenant power ever seen.
B. God was showing them what COVENANT was all about.
5. And right at that point you get a good picture of what the book of Malachi is all about—a study in contrast.
A. God remembers His covenant and they had forgotten it!
6. Malachi’s writings are not about:
A. Daniel in a lion’s den.
B. Or rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls.
7. Malachi is talking to people moving into a NEW TEMPLE—who still have old hearts. The "Huh, What?" generation ("Yet ye say wherein...")
8. 50 years have passed since Haggai and Zechariah prophesied—all the Temple and city has been rebuilt.
A. No captivity—life was easy—and they forgot the covenant of God!
9. It is to this people that Malachi steps on the scene—
A. The line between the people of God and the people around them has begun to disappear.
10. And like most all prophets—“repent” was a common word of his vocabulary.
A. Malachi prophesied against their:
B. Infidelity
C. Robbing God
D. Divorce
E. All these were articles of a Covenant with God.
11. God remembered His Covenant—they forgot!
12. Important to notice: the social environment that was then present.
13. The people were back in their home city and temple, but with very little of their original wealth and prosperity.
A. The land hadn’t been farmed in many years.
B. They were starting all over again.
C. Times were tight.
D. Crops were lean.
E. Herds were smaller and thinner.
14. God had always made it clear that when His people went through their herds for a sacrifice—pick the most perfect they could find to present to God.
15. That wasn’t difficult—when the pastures were filled with many fat and healthy cattle as it was before the captivity.
A. But it became harder to do when—few and lean were their herds.
B. Couldn’t justify the burning on an altar for a one-shot religious ritual!
C. The emotional justification--"I don’t think God would expect us to offer our best cattle..."
16. SO. . .the people brought what THEY FELT was more realistic—it was easily explained and justified.
A. THE FEELINGS AND SOCIAL CLIMATE BEGAN TO DICTATE THEIR SACRIFICE—THEIR OBEDIENCE—THEIR WORSHIP!
17. God’s real complaint is with the priest of the Temple:
A. Malachi 1:6 “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?”
18. Because the people were not happy with the COST of obeying God—the priests wishing to content the people allowed the people to transgress.
A. The priests, got a certain amount of meat and food that was offered to God—if the people stopped sacrificing—they would starve.
19. God rebukes the priest because:
A. They had given into what was EXPEDIENT rather than what was right.
B. They had tailored a message that was more in keeping with what would fit the times rather than hold to God’s methods.
20. Malachi 1:8 “And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.”
A. So both the people and the priest cared more about a VISIBLE influence than on an INVISIBLE one.
21. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MASSIVE THREAT TO TRUTH!
A. John 5:44 “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”
22. NOTICE: 1st, the message becomes shaped to the taste of the people. And 2nd, Once that occurs the presence and power of God evaporates from among His people.
23. And God is furious with the priests for not making clear to the people that:
A. God will not accept anything less—than His will and His way!
24. God goes to the source of the problem:
A. The people are bringing those sick, halt and diseased sacrifices to Me BECAUSE YOU are letting them—they don’t respect the truth—because YOU don’t!
25. I REMEMBERED—YOU FORGOT!!
26. Don’t go pronouncing blessings on what God dosen’t bless—its spiritual suicide!
27. Malachi 2:4-6 “And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.”
A. Contrast of priest and Levites.
B. Exodus 32:19-29 “And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.”
C. The Levites stood out because—
28. Levites—were not afraid to distance themselves from anyone who questioned the authority of God.
A. Moses says, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me”—and all the Levites rallied to him.
29. Ex 32:27 “And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.”
A. Slay all who oppose God—brother—friend—neighbor.
30. Malachi 2:11-12 “Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.”
A. TWO sins are dealt with in Chapter 2.
B. 1st, entering into a wrong marriage.
C. 2nd, putting away lawful wives in order to marry pagans.
31. First, UNLAWFUL MARRIAGES:
A. God called it detestable!
B. A separated people—joining themselves to pagans.
32. In marrying pagan wives they were in rebellion and desecrating His sanctuary (The people not the Temple).
A. 2 Cor. 6:14-16 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
B. Deut. 7:1-4 “When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.”
33. They were sinning against clear knowledge.
34. SECOND SIN:
A. Mal 2:13-16 “And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”
35. Matt 5:27-32 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
A. 1st Topic—LUST
B. 2nd Topic—Divorce and Remarriage.
36. Why is God so upset??
A. Most think marriage is a covenant between TWO people.
B. Actually it is a covenant between THREE partners!
C. I REMEMBERED—YOU FORGOT!
D. Treacherous: committing treason; deystroying a pact, agreement, COVENANT. TRAITORS!
37. God reminds them:
A. “That covenant you made with that woman years ago—you may have forgotten it—but I haven’t!
38. IN OTHER WORDS:
A. When you’ve made a covenant with God—you don’t just divorce your wife—and marry another—you cut yourself off from God!
39. To put away your wives and marry another is adultery—and God joins NO adulterous affair!
40. That’s why God hates “putting away!”
41. Priest today—want to appease the taste of present society—rather than apply Truth!
42. This is the cause of the Pharisee’s question to Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?”
A. Jesus says, “Have ye not read?”
43. “That He which made them at the beginning made them male and female—cleave to his wife—one flesh”
A. “Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh.”
B. “What therefore God hath joined together” (COVENANT)
C. “Let not man put asunder.”
44. I REMEMBERED—YOU FORGOT!
45. The EXCEPTION clause? Matt 19:9
46. “EXCEPT IT BE FOR FORNICATION”
47. WHOSOEVER SHALL PUT AWAY HIS WIFE
48. ___________________ ____________ ___________
49. AND SHALL MARRY ANOTHER
50. _______________ _____________ ____________
51. COMMITTETH ADULTERY
52. READS JUST LIKE Luke 16:18 “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
53. States that REMARRIAGE is adultery! PERIOD!
54. In Luke 16:18 the “Putting Away” is not addressed here. In Matthew 19:9 the subject was “putting away.” Look at context of Luke 16—verse15 through 17.
55. MALACHI is more modern that some think….”From the beginning it was not so.”
56. Priests that allow people to bring—diseased—halt—blind—sacrifices!
57. A COVENANT—I REMEMBERED—YOU FORGOT!
58. It is not in man’s power to sever the marriage bond.
59. ONLY DEATH
60. Every born again – in church – marriage
A. Present are: man—woman—and God!
B. A Covenant HE will not forget!
61. Levites—must apply the sword to any who transgress—brother—friend—neighbor!
62. Ps 111
Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
63. READ ECC 3:14-15
64. "Times have changed, we often hear
To history past we dare not peer
But something calls from yesterday
To remind me of forgotten ways."
65. WE may forget--But God Remembers!
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